Rhenium Disulfide (ReS₂) has evolved as a novel 2D transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMD) material which has promising applications in optoelectronics and photonics because of its distinctive anisotropic optical properties. Saturable absorption property of ReS₂ has been utilized to fabricate saturable absorber (SA) devices to generate short pulses in lasers systems. The results were outstanding, including high-repetition-rate pulses, large modulation depth, multi-wavelength pulses, broadband operation and low saturation intensity. In this review, we emphasize on formulating SAs based on ReS₂ to produce pulsed lasers in the visible, near-infrared and mid-infrared wavelength regions with pulse durations down to femtosecond using mode-locking or Q-switching technique. We outline ReS₂ synthesis techniques and integration platforms concerning solid-state and fiber-type lasers. We discuss the laser performance based on SAs attributes. Lastly, we draw conclusions and discuss challenges and future directions that will help to advance the domain of ultrafast photonic technology.

A scheme, using two-single drive Mach–Zehnder modulators (SD-MZMs) to generate flat optical frequency comb (OFC) by an analogue driving signal, is experimentally demonstrated. The modulator is used to add equidistant sidebands to an injected carrier continuous-wave laser centred at 1550 nm. The flatness of the comb lines is achieved by tuning the DC bias voltages supplied to both modulators. Five comb lines are tested for different frequency spacing of 8.5, 10, 11.5, and 12 GHz and show good frequency tunability. Also, the effect of increasing the radio frequency (RF) modulation signal power on the number of comb lines is investigated. A total of 5 comb lines are obtained with a repetition rate of 10 GHz and 0.77 dB flatness. The proposed system is simple and cost-effective due to the utilization of a simple Mach–Zehnder modulator structure driven by one RF signal generator.

Detection of sub-ppm acetic acid (CH₃COOH) is in demand for environmental gas monitoring. In this article, we propose a CH₃COOH gas sensor based on Sn₃O₄ and reduced graphene oxide (RGO), where the assembly of Sn₃O₄-RGO nanocomposites is dependent on the synthesis method. Three nanocomposites prepared by three different synthesis methods are investigated. The optimum assembly is by hydrothermal reactions of Sn⁴⁺ salts and pre-reduced RGO (designated as RS nanocomposite). Raman spectra verified the fingerprint of RGO in the synthesized RS nanocomposite. The Sn₃O₄ planes of (111), (210), (130), ($\overline{13}2$) are observed from the X-ray diffractogram, and its average crystallite size is 3.94 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy on Sn3d and O1s spectra confirm the stoichiometry of Sn₃O₄ with Sn:O ratio = 0.76. Sn₃O₄-RGO-RS exhibits the highest response of 74% and 4% at 2 and 0.3 ppm, respectively. The sensitivity within sub-ppm CH₃COOH is 64%/ppm. Its superior sensing performance is owing to the embedded and uniformly wrapped Sn₃O₄ nanoparticles on RGO sheets. This allows a massive relative change in electron concentration at the Sn₃O₄-RGO heterojunction during the on/off exposure of CH₃COOH. Additionally, the operation is performed at room temperature, possesses good repeatability, and consumes only ~4 µW, and is a step closer to the development of a commercial CH₃COOH sensor.

A mono-channel waveguide with alternate hollow pillars of different radius to passively select and reject particular frequencies for filtering applications are numerically simulated based on the Finite Element Method (FEM). The waves are guided while the frequencies can be filtered according to pillar inner radius as its waveguiding mechanism. The computations of dispersion relation, transmission coefficient and stress displacement profile of the waveguides were carried out to understand the propagation behaviour of elastic waves on the waveguide structure. The proposed model shows a complete bandgap around 700 kHz, while its respective blocking phenomenon is demonstrated using square-ring shapes. The introduction of defect lines in linear and L-Shaped form enables a tailorable frequency shift within the bandgap region with optimized inner radius of hollow pillar. The proposed model eliminates the need for a multi-channel filtering system with conventional several separated lines thus reduces the dimension of filtering device.